DRAUGHTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12260, 2 May 1903, Page 4 (Supplement)

DRAUGHTS.

SOLUTION OF PROBLEM No. 1207. Position:—Black men on 2, 4, 10, 12, 18. 20, and 22; White men on 19, 21, 27, 28, 29, and 30; king on 5. Black to move and draw. 2(1) 7 9-13 30-25 13-17 15—16 17-22 5 _ 9 . 4—3 22-26 26—31 12—19 7-11 Drawn-. Var. 1. 4- 3 8-11 2(2) 7 22-26 26-31 12-19 5- 9 9-13 30—25 13-17 19-16 17-22 Drawn. Var. 2. 11-16 17-19 7-11 24-20 23-26 6- 2 27—24 27-32 17—13 16—19 13— 9 15—19 20-27 30—25 11-16 20-16 26-31 25-22 13—17 2— 7 19—21 19—23 9— 6 16-23 21—17 10-15 16-11 32-27 Drawn. PROBLEM No. 1209. (By MR. O. H. Richardson, Grand Rapids, • U.S.A.) Ht/iCS..

WuiTß. White to move and win.

THE STRANGEST GAME ON RECORD,

(By Mr. J. P. Grey, Washington.) GAME No. 570.-" Dyke Switcher." Black, J. P. Grey; White, J. Hunter.

On October 3, 1901, my friend, Mr. J. Hunter, ticked me the following,- message:—" If I bring the carriage round your way this afternoon will yon go for a drive?" (The carriage in question was a " tandem" cycle.) I did not reply at once, as I had my doubts about my part of the business, never having been on one of the machines before. So I reckoned thing's up thus': Friend Hunter is an expert cyclist, who thinks' nothing of riding up " Peggy's Bank" at Wrekcnton, or starting from the Swing Bridge to the top of Sheriff Hill, via the Bottle Bank, and on a 72 gear, too! So I thought I would be pretty safe on the back seat, with no steering to. do. I replied: "All right; bring the creature round." Well, he came, and we set off, I receiving my instructions en route

After going about a mile I began to feel at home, and suggested a game at draughts. He, being agreeable, said to me, " You take the Blacks, and move." "Gosh!" I said, "ain't we moving fast enough?" "11—15," I yelled into the back of his neck. We were going down hill. " 21—17" came floating back on the breeze. " 9—14, 25—21, 15—19" (" Mind that cow!" I squealed, as we flew past one of those interesting grass-munehers.) " 24— 15, 10-19. 23-16. 12-19. 17-10, 6-15." I called time here several times, but he took no notice, being too busy dodging a lot of sheep, dogcarts, etc.

As soon as the mists rolled away a bit, my friend, looking round, said: " How many men have you got in your pocket?" I said, " None." He replied, " I know better. I have lost several, but am slightly mixed." " Well, then," 1 said, "three." "Thanks." he said; " then I've got three also. 29—25, 3—12, 27-23, 5—9, 23-16, 12—19, 21-17, 7-10." Steady, Joo," I shouted, " I've lost a foot off." Then after a little struggle I again got a foothold, and the game proceeded (of course I am skipping lots of incidents), " 17—13, 2—6." The next move was rather long in coming, as we were getting .through the traffic at Southwick, making for the road to Whitburn and Marsden. "25—21, 9—14, 22—17, 4-8, 26—23, 19-26, 30—23, B—ll, 28—24, 3-8, 24—20, 8—12." Wo were passing Mr. J. L. Richmond's house at Marsden as the last move was played, 4.45 p.m., but we had not time to call. Then a short distance further on, at Marsden Colliery, an engine and waggons were occupying tho whole of the road with the exception of about 18 inches between the last waggon and the wall. I expected it would be "Get off!" but no! I got orders to sit firm, and with a rush he made for tho gap. shouting to the engine-driver to keep still or he would get punctured. However, he got through, and continued 31—27, 15—18, 23—19, 18—22, 27—24, 22-26, 32—28, 11—15, 20—16, 26—31, 16—11, 31—27. I was watching the back of my friend's neck for signs" of trouble here, but shaking his head slowly lie remarked, "By James, that's an old 'an." I was intending 11—7, 27—20, 7—2, but he said, " I am not going that way now. 14—20. Let's have a. sit on the sea banks."

So we sat there a short time, then across the field on to the Shields Read, and at it again, 15—24. 28—19. 14-18, 17—14. 10—17, 21—14. 27—24, 19—15, *I—s. My friend here went into a shop to do some business, leaving " Tandy" and I standing at the kerb in (South shields. Still I didn't notice that *6— vokld win for Black. 11—18, (14—10 draws), 24—19. We are making back home now along tho Newcastle Road, towards White-Mare-Pool. 15—11. 19—23, B—3. 18—22. 11—8. 22—26. B—4, 26—31, 4—B. 31— 26, 8-11, 23-18, 3-7, 18-9, 7-2, £6-22, 11-:5, 22-17. 15-18, 17-14. 18-15. 14—10, 15—19, Drawn.Newcastle Chronicle.